Plastic picture frame



Jan. 1, 1963 J. N. HENDERSON ET Al.

PLASTIC PICTURE FRAME Fi l ed Nov. 28, 1960 I I wwwmwm ATTORNEYS.

rates This invention relates to a plastic picture frame integrallymolded from a thermoplastic resin and having novel clip means forsecuring the picture panels within the frame.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an attractive pictureframe which can be economically prepared by molding With integralclip-receiving means.

Another object is to provide means for anchoring a picture in the framecomprising a molded plastic clip which cooperates with saidclip-receiving means and may be assembled without any tools.

Another object of the invention is to provide a frame construction whichhas locating means to facilitate locking several frames together ingroup arrangements of various designs. In the following description theframe is described in connection with a picture but it will beunderstood that the frame is also capable of mounting mirrors, displayposters, or other panels that normally are used in a decorative frame.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent from the following description when read in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a pairof frames locked together and mounted in a group arrangement;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view looking at the rear of a picture frameconstructed in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the line -44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a detailed perspective view showing a fragment of the framewhich includes clip-receiving means and cooperating clip ready forassembly;

FIGURE 6 is a view like FIGURE 5 showing an alternative form of frameconstruction having a modified clip-receiving means;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of a metal clip which is suitable forlocking a pair of frames together.

Referring to the drawings, the picture frame of the invention isindicated generally by the numeral 10 and has a picture panel 12 mountedtherein. Referring to FIGURE I particularly, it Will be noted that twopicture frames 10 may be mounted side by side by means of a clip 56 asshown in FIGURE 2. Each frame 10 consists of a vertical side wall 14 andan inwardly-extending angular wall 16 which forms a V with the wall 14.The inwardly extending angular wall 16 is adapted to cover the margin ofthe picture panel 12 when mounted in the frame. The picture 12 isadapted to be mounted between a clip-receiving means indicated generallyby the numerals 18 and 20 and a clip indicated generally by the numeral40. The clip-receiving means may be disposed at a plurality of pointsabout the frame, the precise number depending upon the size of theframe. In FIGURE 3 we have shown four clip-receiving means, twodesignated by the numeral 18 on the sides of the frame and another twodesignated by the numeral 29 on the ends of the frame.

Referrin to FIGURE 5, we have shown in some detail the clip-receivingmeans 18. It consists of a channel member 24 having a pair of legsextending normal to the base of the channel and identified by thenumeral 26.

atent Patented Jan. 1, I963 The legs about the inner surface of thevertical side wall 14 of the frame, to provide a slot 47 between thechannel and wall 14. A triangular rib 28 extends between the base of thechannel 24 and the angular wall 16 of the picture frame. The rib 28 hasan exposed edge extending normal of the vertical wall 14 and adapted tosupport the picture panel 12. The rib 23 may also include a shoulder 32against which the side edge of the picture may abut. The rib receivingmeans is integrally molded with the frame. The unit may be injectionmolded from any thermoplastic resin, particularly one which is not toocostly, such as cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate,polystyrene, polyethylene or the like. The resin may be colored asdesired, and the surface of the frame may carry an engraved design inthe surface thereof.

Also in FIGURE 5 we have shown the cooperating clip 4h which is adaptedto slide into the clip-receiving member 18. This clip is also moldedfrom plastic resinous material and is generally L-shaped, having a mainmember 42 and a pair of legs 44, 46 which are spaced from each other andextend normal to the member 42. The clip shown in FIGURE 5 has a slot 43cut in the inner leg 46 to receive and frictionally grip the rib 28comprising part of the clip-receiving means. The clip 4% may be easilypushed into the clip-receiving means with the outer leg 44 sliding intothe slot 47 and the inner leg 46 engaging frictionally the inner wall ofthe base of the channel member 24. The picture panel 12 is placed withinthe frame with its marginal edge abutting the shoulder 32. Thus the clipembraces the marginal portion of the picture to fasten it securelywithin the frame as shown in FIGURE 3.

An alternative form of clip-receiving means is shown in FIGURE 6. Inthis form two ribs rather than one are employed. Instead of the centralrib 30 two ribs 36 are disposed one at either end of the clip-receivingmeans. The same clip 40 is used in this form of the invention. It willbe seen that in this form of the invention the channel member 24, 26 isintegrally formed with the ribs 36. The ribs merely form an interiorextension of the legs 25 of the channel.

The legs 44, 46 of the clip are spaced farther apart at their lower endsthan at their upper ends. By means of this construction the clip israther easy to slide into the clip-receiving means initially but as itis pushed down the frictional force of engagement increases so that thelegs tightly grip the base of the channel member 24. An opening 50 isprovided in the horizontal portion of the clip member 40 (as shown inFIG. 6) to permit hanging the picture from a nail or other projectionextending from the wall.

The clip shown in FIGURE 8 is a U-shaped piece of sheet metal 56 havinginwardly extending barbs 58 which prevent the clip from coming off theframe after it has once been placed in position. If it is desired toremove the clip to take the adjoining picture frames apart the legs ofthe clip can be spread for this purpose. The riblike projections 52constitute guide means extending from the inner surface of the verticalside wall I4 of the frame and are adapted to hold the clips againstlateral movement.

The ribs 22 shown in FIGURE 3 and in FIGURE 6 are for the purpose ofstrengthening the frame and supporting the marginal edge of the picture.They may be spaced at intervals about the periphery of the frame betweenthe clip-receiving members as required. Less rigid plastic material andwider frames will require more frequent rib support.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that we have providedan improved frame construction which may be easily molded at very lowcost from thermoplastic resins. The entire frame including theclip-receiving members, the ribs 22 and the locating projections 52 aremolded completely in one piece by the injection method. The clips aremolded separately. in spit of the fact that the parts are relativelycheap to manufacture they may be formed very accurately by molding andthus the clips and the clip-receiving members complement each otherperfectly so that the clips do not become accidentally dislodged becauseof frictional engagement.

Although the frames shown and described are rectan gular it will beappreciated that the invention is not restricted to this shape.Preferably, the portions of the frame that carry the clips do notdeviate markedly from a straight line, but the remaining portions may becurved as desired. Other modifications will occur to those skilled inthe art and it is my intention to cover any such modifications that mayreasonably be embraced by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A picture frame molded from a plastic resin com prising a side wallvertically disposed with respect to a picture panel mounted in saidframe, and an inwardlyextending angular wall forming an acute angle withsaid vertical wall and adapted to cover the margin of said picturepanel, a plurality of clip-receiving means integrally molded with saidframe and adapted to cooperate with clip means for securing said picturepanel in the frame, said clip-receiving means comprising a channelmember having a base and parallel legs extending normal thereto, saidlegs abutting said vertical Wall to provide a slot between said wall andsaid channel base, a rib extending between said channel member and saidangular wall and having arr-exposed edge extending normally of saidvertical wall serving to support the margin of said picture panel, aremovable L-shaped clip for each clip-receiving means having a pair ofspaced legs one of which fits into said slot and the other of whichfrictionally engaged the outside face of said channel base, therebyclamping said it picture panel securely against said rib and the inneredge of said angular wall.

2. The frame of claim 1 in which said rib is disposed centrally of saidchannel member and said other of the pair of spaced legs on the clip hasa slot for receiving said rib.

3. The frame of claim 1 in which said clip-receiving means has two ribs,one at either end of said channel member.

4. The frame of claim 1 in which said spaced legs for said clip aredivergent so that the frictional force with which they engage theclip-receiving member increases as the clip is pressed into theclip-receiving means.

5. A picture frame molded from plastic resin comprising a side wallvertically disposed with respect to a picture panel mounted in saidframe, an inwardly-extending angular wall forming an acute angle withsaid vertical Wall and adapted to cover the margin of said picturepanel, a plurality of clip-receiving means integrally molded with saidframe and adapted to cooperate with clip means for securing said picturepanel in the frame, said clipreceiving means comprising a channel memberhaving a base and parallel legs extending normal thereto, said legsjoining said vertical wall to provide a slot between said wall and saidchannel base, and a removable L-shaped clip for each clip-receivingmeans having a pair of spaced legs one of which fits snugly into saidslot and the other of Which-frictionally engages the outside face ofsaid channel base, thereby clamping said picture panel against the inneredge of said angular wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,581,843 Edwards Jan. 8, 1952 2,744,346 Auerbach-Levy May 8, 19522,820,311 Hamlin Ian. 21, 1958

1. A PICTURE FRAME MOLDED FROM A PLASTIC RESIN COMPRISING A SIDE WALLVERTICALLY DISPOSED WITH RESPECT TO A PICTURE PANEL MOUNTED IN SAIDFRAME, AND AN INWARDLYEXTENDING ANGULAR WALL FORMING AN ACUTE ANGLE WITHSAID VERTICAL WALL AND ADAPTED TO COVER THE MARGIN OF SAID PICTUREPANEL, A PLURALITY OF CLIP-RECEIVING MEANS INTEGRALLY MOLDED WITH SAIDFRAME AND ADAPTED TO COOPERATE WITH CLIP MEANS FOR SECURING SAID PICTUREPANEL IN THE FRAME, SAID CLIP-RECEIVING MEANS COMPRISING A CHANNELMEMBER HAVING A BASE AND PARALLEL LEGS EXTENDING NORMAL THERETO, SAIDLEGS ABUTTING SAID VERTICAL WALL TO PROVIDE A SLOT BE-